Automatic ignition fuel lighter provided with a safety device

ABSTRACT

In an automatic fuel lighter of the type including a gas reservoir and a vibrator switch adapted for generating, together with an energizing electric circuit, a succession of fueligniting marks, a coil which is a part of said electric circuit and its longitudinal axis controls triggers means acting upon the fuel release valve and the vibrators switch, thus providing for a very simple construction of the lighter.

Maurice Liesse 2, Rue Diderot, 94 Champigny sur Marne, France 1 [21] Appl. No. 877,281

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Nov. 17,1969 [45] Patented June8,l97l

[22] Filed [32] Priority Nov. 19, 1968 [33] France 8/1967 Liesse.......................,...

Primary Examiner Edward G. Favors Attorney-William Anthony Drucker ABSTRACT: In an automatic fuel lighter of the type including a gas reservoir and a vibrator switch adapted for generating,

[54] AUTOMATIC IGNITION FUEL LIGHTER PROYIDED wlT."A.sAFETY DEVICE together with an energizing electric circuit, a succession of 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[51] Int. Cl

fuel-igniting marks, a coil which is a part of said electric circuit and its longitudinal axis controls triggers means acting upon the fuel release valve and the vibrators switch, thus providing for a very simple construction of the lighter.

PATENTEDJUH si n v 3.5831249 SHEET 1 OF 3 AUTOMATIC IGNITION FUEL LIGHTER PROVIDED WITH A SAFETY DEVICE This invention relates to automatic ignition gas or fuel lighters or photophor'es provided with a safety device which cuts off the gas inlet, and therefore, puts out the flame, when they are placed in a position distinctly different from their normal position of use.

The construction of such lighters is known which involves providing them with a gas reservoir and an electric cell. Automatic'ignition is provided by a spring connected to a striker whose end position is slidingly engaged in an opening located at the base of the lighter. When the lighter is placed on a horizontal plane surface, the end portion of the striker can project below the base of the lighter, thus freeing the spring. This freeing causes both the opening of a needle controlling the exit of gas from the reservoir and ignition with sparks produced by an electric circuit comprising a coil with two windings the first one, connected to the cell through a strip vibrator and the second one feeding a spark gap comprising two oppositely placed electrodes in the gas discharge area, one of said electrodes advantageously consisting of the tube through which the gas is discharged. A particularly advantageous construction of the vibrator consists of a strip integral with the structure of the lighter, through one of its end portions and supporting, at its second end portion, a magnet which cooperates with a ferromagnetic part integral with the striker. When the lighter is lifted and the striker moves under the effect of the spring to which it is connected, it carries the magnet along and bends the strip comprising the vibrator until the restoring forceof said strip becomes stronger than the force of attraction between the magnet and the ferromagnetic part; at this moment, the magnet separates from the ferromagnetic part and the strip returns to its equilibrium point while vibrating on either side of the latter. Finally, it is known to construct the safety device using a cap integral with the needle controlling the gas flow, said cap cooperating with a spring functioning bycompression, so that, when the lighter is in its normal position, the needle opens under the effect of the weight of the cap, chosen so that it is greater than the force of repulsion which acts in the opposite direction but is directed along the same axis, and so that, when the lighter is in a position distinctly different from its normal position, the needle is closed under the effect of the force of repulsion of the spring which is then greater than the component, along its axis, ofthe weight of the cap.

These various known devices are relatively complex and their operation is delicate.

It is an object of the invention to provide for more reliable assemblies comprising a lesser number of parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic fuel lighter or photophore of the type referred to above, having an automatic fuel lighter having a top and a base on which it is adapted to rest and comprising, in a unitory assembly a fuel reservoir, a normally open vibratory switch having a stationary contact and a vibratory blade carrying a second contact in registry with said stationary contact, a source of fuel, a pair of electrodes positioned in a region where fuel is to be ignited, an electric circuit connected to said switch contacts and to said electrodes for generating a succession of fuel-igniting sparks in response to a train of openings and closings between said switch contacts each time said switch is caused to vibrate, actuating means for causing said switch to vibrate each time said lighter is lifted, said actuating means comprising trigger means for first deflecting and then abruptly releasing said vibratory blade, said vibratory blade having a magnet attached to its free end and said trigger means comprising a lever having ferromagnetic element positioned to engage said magnet, said source of fuel comprising a reservoir for a fuel to be dispensed in gaseous form, said reservoir having a mechanically openable fuel release valve, said lever pivotally mounted for opening said valve, wherein said electric circuit comprises a coil having a longitudinal axis positioned so that it is vertical when the lighter normally rests on its base, said coil being, mounted for free displacement along its longitudinal axis between a first extreme position towards the base, and a second extreme position towards the top of the lighter, said lever being connected to said coil so as to be pivoted into a first position when said coil is in its first extreme position and pivoted into a second position when said coil is in its second extreme position, and the axis thereof is substantially vertical whereby the said valve is closed and the electric circuit is open when the coil is in its second extreme position and the valve is open when the coil is in its first extreme position and the axis thereof is substantially vertical, whereas when the position of the axis of the coil substantially departs from the vertical, the said lever is not fully pivoted into its second position and the valve is not open and finally, when the coil effects a descending movement from its second extreme position to its first extreme position it causes the setting into vibration of the vibratory blade said lighter function comprising means for normally the locking said in its second position when the lighter rests on its base and for allowing the said displacement of the coil under the influence ofits own weight when the lighter is lifted.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description. In the appended drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lighter structure according to the invention,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of particular parts comprising the lighter structure according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of parts comprising a lighter structure according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the constitution of an electric circuit used in a lighter according to the invention. 1

FIG. 1, shows a lighter mechanism designed to be mounted into a hollow body of any decorative shape, for example, a I

candle, or bottle, and comprising the external casing of the lighter. This mechanism comprises a circular base plate I, and a brim 2 formed by pressing. This brim 2 comprises holes 3 allowing passage to screws designed to fasten the external casing onto base plate 1. Two cylindrical tubes 40 and 4b are fastened to the base plate perpendicularly to said plate. These tubes are each designed to contain, for example, two 1.5 volt cells. The cells are introduced into tubes 4a and 4b through holes provided in the base plate at right angles to said tubes. This arrangement makes it possible to change cells when they are used up, without having to take the lighter apart. The cells of tube 4a are introduced, for example, with the positive pole directed towards the upper part of said tube, whereas the cells of tube 4b are introduced with the negative pole directed towards the upper part. Furthermore, the cover common to the two openings comprises a metallic bridge which joins the negative pole of the last cell of column 40 to the positive pole of the last cell of column 4b, so that all four cells are connected in series; the junction of the four cells assembly is provided by connections located in bridge 5 which joins the end portions of both tubes 4a and 4b. Bridge 5 is provided at its end portions with parts conforming to the shape of the end portions of tubes 4a and 4b and caps said end portions. The strength of the assembly is improved by extensions 6 which are provided on tubes 41: and 4b, said extensions being embedded in notches provided in bridge 5. Furthermore, a reservoir 7' containing gas is also fastened onto base plate I. The bottom of said gas reservoir is in correspondence with an opening provided in said base plate so that the valve placed in said reservoir bottom is accessible and said reservoir can be thus refilled without having to take the lighter apart. The reservoir 7 is topped by a cap 8 shown in FIG. 2 in more detailed fashion. Cap 8 supports a needle controlled by a rod 9 and comprises a tube 10 joined, through a flexible tube 11, to burner 12 fastened to the top part of bridge 5. A fork link 13, passing above cap 8, and hooked to eyelets 14, provided in base plate 1, prevents complete unscrewing ofcap 8 by turning the reservoir 7 when regulating the height ofthe flame. Furthermore, a coil IS with a double winding is positioned so that its axis is parallel to the axis of tubes 4a and 41;, Le. it is vertical when base plate 1 rests upon a horizontal surface. This coil 15 is extended at its lower part by a push rod 16 which can slide freely into an opening 17 provided in base plate 1. Coil 15 is further extended at its upper part by a ring 18, channeled in accordance with 19 and comprising a port 20. A plate 21, made of ferromagnetic material and shaped as a circle, is housed within ring 18; the diameter of said plate 21 being slightly shorter than the internal diameter of ring 18, these two elements can move with respect to each other without any difficulty. Plate 21 comprises, on the one hand, a catch 22 which is engaged in port 20, and, on the other hand, a rod 23 which passes into notch 19 abuts onto a support which is particularly integral with cap 8 (FIG. 2); rod 23 is in turn extended beyond its bearing point on cap 8 by a projection 24 comprising two blades 24a and 24b which come into contact, through their edge, with the lateral surfaces of tubes 4a and 4b respectively. These blades are separated by a slot 25 in which the end portion of rod 9 takes up position and whose cross-sectional dimensions are larger than the width of slot 26, thus making it possible for the projection of plate 21 to lift said rod 9 and thus act on the needle. A sharp pointed metal rod 26 is also fastened onto bridge 5, the point of said rod 26 being located opposite and at a short distance from the end portion of burner 12. Rod 26 is connected by a metal wire 27 to one of the terminals 28 of the second coil winding. A vibrator, now shown in the figure, is positioned underneath bridge this vibrator comprises a flexible strip 29 positioned above plate 21. Strip 29 comprises at its end portion, a permanent magnet 30, which has a tendency to adhere against plate 21. Finally, a spring rod 31 maintained by lugs 32 is positioned against the internal face of the base plate. This spring rod comprises a cambering constituting a catch which cooperates with a groove and a hole provided in pushrod 16, as will be exposed hereinbelow in FIG. 3. According to a particular and practical embodiment, lugs 32 act as a hinge for the cover common to both openings giving access to tubes 4a and 4b, the spring rod acting, in this case, so as to maintain said cover in a closed position in cooperation with a catch provided onto said cover and which said spring rod maintains in an adequate housing.

FIG. 2, shows in detail cap 8 comprising a reinforcing edge 33, the gas discharge tube and axial duct 34 within which is housed rod 9 controlling the needle. Within duct 34, and surrounding rod 9,'is positioned a spiral spring acting by compression when rod 9 moves in the direction of arrow 35 and whose role is, when rod 9 is subjected to no other external force, to restore said rod in the direction opposite arrow 35, until it provides complete closure ofthe needle with which it cooperates. Cap 8 is also topped by two catches 36a and 36b parallel to the axis of rod 9 and joined with each other through a wall 37. FIG. 2 shows also a part of the extension of plate 21 and indicates how this extension abuts on wall 37 and is held in place due to two openings 38a and 38b, in which the end portions of catches 36a and 36b respectively slip in; it can be thus seen that ridge 39 of wall 37 determines a horizontal axis around which plate 21 moves.

FIG. 3 shows the pushrod 16 extending from coil at its upper part. Inthis figure, it can be seen that said pushrod 16 comprises a longitudinal groove 40, over its entire length and a hole 41. In this FIG., it can be seen also that, spring rod 31, held in abutment against base plate 1 through lugs 32, comprises a cambering 42 which is inserted either in groove 40 or in hole 41 depending on the orientation imparted to rod 16, and it can be seen also that the pushrod ends with knob 43 whose diameter is larger than the diameter of said pushrod. Through a manual action on the pushbutton, pushrod 16 can be rotated around its axis, either in the direction of arrow 44 or in the opposite direction. When the pushrod 16 is in the configuration of FIG. 2, cambering 42 of spring rod 31 penetrates into hole 41 and prevents rod 16 from moving in the direction of arrow 45; as a result, coil 15 (FIG. 1) is blocked and cannot move along its axis; this blocking corresponds to the extreme position of the coil towards the top of the lighter.

When, through manual action on button 43, rod 16 is caused to rotate in the direction of arrow 44, cambering 42 comes out of hole 41 and takes up position in groove 40; this operation is possible as a result of the flexibility of rod 31 and coil 15 around its axis is possible because of the dimensions of port 20 and notch 19 (FIG. 1); moreover, the amplitude of this rotation is limited by the edges of notch 19 specifically provided to allow rotation of coil 15 by a sufficient quantity, but no more.

FIG. 4, shows as a cross section, the upper end portion of gas reservoir 7 (FIG. 1) in place within cap 8. The part of reservoir 7, which can be seen in the FIG., comprises a lateral cylindrical surface 46 provided at its end portion with an external threading 47 screwing into the internal threading 48 provided in cap 8. Reservoir 7 ends at its upper part by a thin membrane 49 supporting, at its center, a receptacle 50, whose internal surface 51 is shaped as a right prism with a regular polygon base, or has any other shape adapted for allowing passage of gas on the periphery of the pads which will be referred to hereinunder. The bottom of receptacle is pierced at its center with a hole 52 causing the interior of the reservoir to communicate with the exterior. Cap 8 comprises, in its axial duct 34, rod 9 comprising at its base, a shoulder 54, followed with a needle 55. A hooped ring 56 within the end portion of axial duct 34 encloses rod 9 in said axial duct and a spiral spring 57, positioned between ring 56 and shoulder 54, acts to abut the end portion of needle against the end portion ofthe hole in pad 58, which is smaller, thus preventing gas from leaving reservoir 7. Cap 8 also comprises a tube 10 causing the interior of said cap to communicate with the exterior. In receptacle 50, are positioned, in succession, on top of one another, starting from the bottom of said receptacle, a rubber pad 58 on a metal pad 59 and a soft rubber pad 60. These three pads have an external diameter equal to the diameter of the inscribed circles in the regular polygon, the base of he right prism constituting the interior surface 51 of receptacle 50. The pad 58 comprises at its center a circular hole whose diameter is smaller than that of the extremity of needle 55 and on which it seals the gas. Pad 59 comprises at its center a circular hole 61 whose diameter is slightly larger than the external diameter ofneedle 55. Pad comprises at its center a circular hole 62 whose diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of hole 61. Furthermore, pad 59 comprises at its upper part, at east one groove positioned along a radius of said pad and joining the edge of circular hole 61 with the external edge of said pad 59. Furthermore, a packing gland pad 63 and a plastic pad 64 are positioned around needle 55 and define by their thickness the depth of cavity 65 located between the end portion of reservoir 7 and the internal face of cap 8; pad 63 has the same external diameter as pads 58, 59 and 60.

When rod 9 is lifted through the action of an external device, the end portion of needle 55 stops resting on pad 58 and the gas contained in the reservoir is discharged through hole 52, arrives into the cavity constituted by hole 61 and then into the cavity constituted by hole 62; it then passes into the groove provided in pad 59, which makes its arrival possible into one of the cavities in the internal sides of receptacle 50, shaped as a right'prism whose base is a regular polygon, and the external sides of pads 59 and 60 shaped as a right cylinder whose base is a circle inscribed in said regular polygon. The gas then reaches cavity 65 and can leave the device trough tube 10 and be conducted through tube 11 to burner 12 (FIG. 1). This device constitutes an automatic gas flow regulator and therefore a regulator of the heightof the flame produced. Indeed, when the pressure in reservoir 7 is high, the thin membrane 49 becomes distorted under the effect of this pressure and takes up a position shown as a dotted line on the left hand part of FIG. 4. As can be seen on this FIG., this results in the upper part of the receptacle 50 walls being pushed back and subsequently in compression of the soft rubber pad 60. As a result of this compression, pad 60 is caused, through its lower face, to partially obstruct the groove provided in the upper face of pad 59, thus limiting the gas flow in spite of its high pressure. When, little by little, the pressure decreases in reservoir 7, the thin membrane progressively returns towards the position indicated as continuous dashes in FIG. 4, and as a result, the duct section offered to the gas in the groove of pad 59 increases, so that the gas flow is maintained in spite ofthe fact that its pressure in the reservoir has decreased. A manual control of the pressure is obtained by rotating the base of the gas reservoir, which screws or unscrews cap 8. This effects a crushing or a release of the pads cooperating with one or more radial slits.

FIG. 5, shows the schematic diagram of the electric circuit used to cause ignition. Coil comprises a primary winding 66 one of whose end portions is connected through a wire 67 to one of the poles ofa cell 68 battery and the other extremity of which is connected through a wire 69 to one of the terminals ofa capacitor 70. The second terminal of the cell 68 battery is further connected through a wire 71 to the second terminal of capacitor 70. Coil 15 also comprises a secondary winding 72 one of whose extremities is connected through a wire 73 to burner 12 (FIG. I) and the other extremity of which is connected through a wire 74 to the metallic rod 26 forming a spark gap with burner 12. Furthermore one ofthe terminals of capacitor 70 is joined through a wire 75 to the flexible strip 29 (FIG. 1) comprising at its extremity the permanent magnet 30 attracted to plate 21 made of ferromagnetic material, said plate being connected through ring 18 to coil 15 while the second terminal of capacitor 70 is connected through a wire 76 to a fixed rod 77 supporting an adjustable screw 78 positioned opposite a contact 79 arranged on strip 29. The entire assembly consisting of rod 77, screw 78, strip 29 provided with its contact 79, constitutes a strip vibrator, as is well known; and the overall circuit conceived as described constitutes a spark generator with the sparks appearing between components 12 and 26 when strip 29 vibrates and causes intermittent contact of its contact 79 with the extremity of screw 78 as is well known.

The operation of the device described above is as follows: when the cambering 42 is in position in hole 41 (FIG. 3) the device is blocked and can be taken with the hand, lifted from its support and placed in any position without any gas being discharged and without any production of sparks by the spark gap. Indeed, in that case, coil 15 is locked in its extreme position towards the top ofthe lighter, plate 21 is lifted to its maximum and its projections 24a and 24b do not exert any pull on rod 9 through plug 9a (FIG. 1) so that the needle urged by spring 57 (FIG. 4) closes the opening in pad 58. Furthermore, strip 29 (FIGS. 1 and 5) is in a position in which its contact 79 is not in contact with the extremity of screw 78, so that capacitor 70 does not discharge and the electric circuit has no current passing through it. If, on the other hand, cambering 42 is in position in groove 40, coil 15 is unclamped and can move in the direction of its axis between its extreme position towards the top of the lighter and its extreme position towards the base of the lighter; when said lighter is normally put down on its base upon a plane surface, pushrod 16 also rests through button 43, on said plane surface and holds coil 15 in the same position as previously when it was blocked; when the lighter is lifted vertically, the coil, under the influence ofits own weight, drops to its extreme position towards the base of the lighter; in this movement, the coil carries along, through ring 18, plate 21 whose catch 22 is enclosed in port of said ring 18; plate 21 which then pivots around the axis defined by ridge 39 of wall 37 (FIG. 2) lifts, through projections 24a and 24b, the bolt 9a, and as a result, rod 9, which results in separating the extremity of needle 55 from the opening of pad 58 (FIG. 4) and, as a result, in allowing the gas to leave reservoir 7 and arrive, as seen previously, into burner 12 (FIG. 1); this movement causes compression ofspring 57 (FIG. 4). Similarly plate 21 carries along magnet 30 and, as a result, curves strip 29 until the restoring force of strip 29 is greater than the force of attraction between plate 21 and magnet 30; at that moment, the strip returns in damped oscillations, towards its equilibrium position and when these oscillations occur, its contact 79 (FIG. 5) sets up with the end portion of screw 78, intermittent contacts thus causing the appearance of sparks between parts 12 and 26, aid sparks causing ignition of the gas. Considering now what happens when the lighter is inclined, it can be seen that the weight component of coil 15 along the axis of said coil has a value which decreases as a function of said inclination. As a result, the force exerted on plate 21 and, through its agency, on spring 57 (FIG. 4) decreases so that said spring, tared accordingly, then pushes back the needle whose extremity again obstructs the extremity of the hole of pad 58, thus stopping gas flow. As a result of this arrangement, even if the lighter is inadvertently knocked down 'and part 43 no longer abuts on a plane surface, there is no danger of gas discharge or of fire.

It is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the particular embodiments described and illustrated above.

Iclaim: v

1. An automatic fuel lighter having a top and a base on which it is adapted to rest and comprising, in a unitary assembly a fuel reservoir, a normally open vibratory switch having a stationary contact and a vibratory blade carrying a second contact in registry with said stationary contact, a source of fuel, a pair of electrodes for generating a succession of fuel-igniting sparks in response to a train of openings and closings between said switch contacts each time said switch to vibrate each time said lighter is lifted, said actuating means comprising trigger means for first deflecting and then abruptly releasing said vibratory blade, said vibratory blade having a magnet attached to its free end and said trigger means comprising a lever having a ferromagnetic element positioned to engage said magnet, said source of fuel comprising a reservoir for a fuel to be dispensed in gaseous form, said reservoir having a mechanically openable fuel release valve, said lever being pivotally mounted for opening said valve, wherein aid electric circuit comprises a coil having a longitudinal axis positioned so that it is vertical when the lighter normally rests on its base, said coil being mounted for free displacement along its longitudinal axis between a first extreme position towards the base, and a second extreme position towards the top of the lighter, said lever being connected to said coil so as to be pivoted into a first position when said coil is in its first extreme position and pivoted into a second position when said coil is in its second extreme position and the axis thereof is substantially vertical whereby the said valve is closed and the electric circuit is open when the coil is in its second extreme position and the valve is open when the coil is in its first extreme position and the axis thereof is substantially vertical, whereas when the position of the axis of the coil substantially departs from the vertical, the said lever is not fully pivoted into its second position and the valve is not open and finally, when the coil effects a descending movement from its second extreme position to its first extreme position it causes the setting into vibration of the vibratory blade, said lighter further comprising means for normally locking the generatrices coil in its second position when the lighter rests on its base and for allowing the said displacement of generatrices coil under the influence ofits own weight when the lighter is lifted.

2. An automatic fuel lighter as claimed in claim I, wherein the said locking means include a rod connected at the lower end of the coil, the box of the lighter having an opening, the said rod having a lower end mounted for freely sliding in said opening and a longitudinal groove and a hole on two respective generatrices of the said rod, the coil being mounted for free rotation around its axis from one of the said generatrices to the other, a flexible elongated member provided with a cambered portion cooperating with the said rod and being adapted for freely sliding in the said longitudinal groove when the coil moves between the said two extreme positions and for engaging the said hole when the coil is in the said second extreme position.

3. An automatic fuel lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gas reservoir has an upper end, comprising an outer wall provided with an exhaust part and an inner wall consisting ofa flexible membrane, a receptacle formed in said membrane and having a bottom part provided with a hole, at least first and second pads lodged in said receptacle and each provided with a central hole communating with the hole of the receptacle, the upper surface of said first pad being provided with at least one radial groove joining the central hole thereof to the outer surface thereof a space being provided between the outer surface of said pads and said receptacle, said fuel-release valve including a needle adapted for closing the central hole of the second pad without closing the central hole of the first pad.

4. An automatic fuel lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric circuit includes a plurality of cells, at least two cylindrical tubes for lodging said cells, at least two orifices provided in the base ofthe lighter for receiving said tubes, and means for serially connecting said cells together. 

1. An automatic fuel lighter having a top and a base on which it is adapted to rest and comprising, in a unitary assembly a fuel reservoir, a normally open vibratory switch having a stationary contact and a vibratory blade carrying a second contact in registry with said stationary contact, a source of fuel, a pair of electrodes for generating a succession of fuel-igniting sparks in response to a train of openings and closings between said switch contacts each time said switch to vibrate each time said lighter is lifted, said actuating means comprising trigger means for first deflecting and then abruptly releasing said vibratory blade, said vibratory blade having a magnet attached to its free end and said trigger means comprising a lever having a ferromagnetic element positioned to engage said magnet, said source of fuel comprising a reservoir for a fuel to be dispensed in gaseous form, said reservoir having a mechanically openable fuel release valve, said lever being pivotally mounted for opening said valve, wherein aid electric circuit comprises a coil having a longitudinal axis positioned so that it is vertical when the lighter normally rests on its base, said coil being mounted for free displacement along its longitudinal axis between a first extreme position towards the base, and a second extreme position towards the top of the lighter, said lever being connected to said coil so as to be pivoted into a first position when said coil is in its first extreme position and pivoted into a second position when said coil is in its second extreme position and the axis thereof is substantially vertical whereby the said valve is closed and the electric circuit is open when the coil is in its second extreme position and the valve is open when the coil is in its first extreme position and the axis thereof is substantially vertical, whereas when the position of the axis of the coil substantially departs from the vertical, the said lever is not fully pivoted into its second position and the valve is not open and finally, when the coil effects a descending movement from its second extreme position to its first extreme position it causes the setting into vibration of the vibratory blade, said lighter further comprising means for normally locking the generatrices coil in its second position when the lighter rests on its base and for allowing the said displacement of generatrices coil under the influence of its own weight when the lighter is lifted.
 2. An automatic fuel lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said locking means include a rod connected at the lower end of the coil, the box of the lighter having an opening, the said rod having a lower end mounted for freely sliding in said opening and a longitudinal groove and a hole on two respective generatrices of the said rod, the coil being mounted for free rotation around its axis from one of the said generatrices to the other, a flexible elongated member provided with a cambered portion cooperating with the said rod and being adapted for freely sliding in the said longitudinal groove when the coil moves between the said two extreme positions and for engaging the said hole when the coil is in the said second extreme position.
 3. An automatic fuel lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gas reservoir has an upper end, comprising an outer wall provided with an exhaust part and an inner wall consisting of a flexible membrane, a receptacle formed in said membrane and having a bottom part provided with a hole, at least first and second pads lodged in said receptacle and each provided with a central hole communating with the hole of the receptacle, the upper surface of said first pad being provided with at least one radial groove joining the central hole thereof to the outer surface thereof a space being provided between the outer surface of said pads and said receptacle, said fuel-release valve including a needle adapted for closing the central hole of the second pad without closing the central hole of the first pad.
 4. An automatic fuel lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric circuit includes a plurality of cells, at least two cylindrical tubes for lodging said cells, at least two orifices provided in the base of the lighter for receiving said tubes, and means for serially connecting said cells together. 